Corpun file 20445
The Tide, Port Harcourt, 31 July 2008
Man, 25, gets 12 strokes for stealing
An Ilorin Magistrate's Court Monday ordered that a motorcycle mechanic, Rasaq Jimoh, be given 12 strokes of the cane for stealing a Nokia mobile phone valued at N3,500.
The Magistrate, Mr Adeolu Oyeyipo, who handed down the punishment, said he was being lenient with Jimoh, an orphan, because he was a first offender.
The 25-year-old convict had pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of theft, and blamed the devil for pushing him to commit the offence.
He said he entered the shop of one Janet Patrick of Tipper Garrage, Tanke, in Ilorin and made away with the mobile phone.
The convict appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, saying he was tempted to commit the offence, because as an orphan, he had no means of livelihood.
The convict was flogged in the court premises by security agents, and allowed to go.
He later thanked the magistrate for not sending him to prison, and vowed never to steal again.
